Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-12-30

] L1oA me LDAls the Young men arm tl
with a revolver and a couple Of stout
/ sticks. 1t was a brilliant moonlight
night, almost as bright as day; and but
for Ruths fearful approximations of
/ evil, her companions were much in-
elined to regard the expedition in the
light OF a frolie But Ruth put a
damper on any such feeling and urged
them all, by preeept and example, to
hasten, herself taking the lead and
running with q speed that required
/ some exertion on Laura's part to keep
up with. AS they came in sight of the
old brown house Ruth stopped, with a
suppressed cry.
There, she painted, "do you see
/ that light, moving from room to room
already it has twice changed its
place. 1 knew something was wrong,
or otherwise Madam Hatherton would
be in bed aud asleep"
Her listeners were much impressed
by her words, and for the first time be-
gan to share her fears. They came to
a sudden halt
I'VE must not be heard approach
ing, said Will; "f any burglar is
there. he viii hear our steps on this
hard-frOzen ground"
"Slip of your boots, Will, said
jim taking OF his own as he spoke;
"the girls viii carry them, and we viii
go on aneaa-
Noiselessly they few forward in their
stocking feet. and Ruth and Laura.
trembling with the sense Of dancer,
followed. 20, my brothers, if they
should be hurt moaned Ruth. A pis-
tol shot was heard the next moment.
and Immediately afterwards a flying
figure bounded from the door, and was
pursued by VIII and Jim far down the
road The girls fastened into the
house. The candle had been upset, but
by the moons light Ruth soon found
matches and relighted it. She then
led the way to Madam Hatharbon's
room, where the poor old lady lay upon
the floor stunned and insensible, but
not dead She was still dressed as
when they had last seen her, and. by
the appearance Of papers stewn about,
and ink upon the stand, had sat up
later than usual to write. Ruth and
Laura exerted themselves to restore
her; they chafed the poor old hands,
and both discovered at the same mo-
ment that every one Of the costly rings
and diamond earrings were gone.
stolen, " whispered Ruth, In answer
to Laura's mute inquiry. "Sae always
slept with them" 1t was long before
Madam Hatherton gave signs of re-
turning consciousness; but when at last
she recognized her companions she
said to Ruth:
"you were right, my dear; it was not
safe for me to be alone. All, my beau
tiful ringl I had rather the villain had
taken all the money Possessed"
A chatter was now heard at the door,
and the boys, dragging their prisoner,
entered He had been captured with
out bloodshed, and found his captors
more than match for him.
ooh, they've got him!" Ruth ex-
claimed in gIee. Dear madam, you
shall have your rings again; he can't |
have swallowed them.
Here he is, madam; shall unmasE /
him?" ask Jim.
Madam Hatherton looked aud began /
to tremble. Laura glanced at the tall /
figure, and felt cold chill of appre- |
hension; but jim, who had asked the T.
question for mere form, tore the mask +
from the burglars face without waiting /
for any answer.
Edward" shrieked Laura, and the /
horror in her tone caused even that [
hardened face to blush
my son! Z" screamed Madam Hather- 4
ton, in a voice Of anguish, and fell to /
the floor in a dead faint Every /
one sprang to her assistance, /
and in the confusion the thief escaped. /
Neither VIII nor jim attempted to re-
capture him. for they saw plainly 1
enough that it would be a deadly blow /
to two women present.
1t was hours before Madam Hather- /
ton again returned to consciousness, /
and when at last she opened II y eyes /
the light seemed fed from them She /
never sat up again, never touched the !
beloved piano any more, and made but
one more effort before she died Her /
will was changed, but not as she had IN /
tended, for she left all she possessed /
equally divided, to Laura and Ruth
When the viii was read these young
ladies found themselves heiresses. /
Laura attended the old lady to the
last, and wept bitterly when she closed /
those aged eyes. How many Of those
tears were for the reprobate son she /
herself scarcely suspected.
Why Edward Dunbar had spoken of
his mother as his aunt he alone could
have told. Perhaps it was a last rem
nant Of shame that made him blush to
acknowledge that she whom he had
deceived since the time when he was
old enough to hatch schemes Of treach-
cry and cunning. was the woman who
had Graded his baby head and dreamed
high hopes Of a brilliant future for
him. Be this supposition correct or
otherwise VIII never be known, for Ed
ward Dunbar was never more seen in
The haunts where he had been a
familiar figure, and together with
many other things concerning Madam
Hatherton. it must remain a mystery.
HOW THEY FALL BEHIND
There is really no